About Safeguarding Adult Reviews

Cumbria Safeguarding Adults Board brings together organisations that work with adults and their families across Cumbria with the aim of making sure that they work well together to keep adults safe. 

Cumbria Safeguarding Adult Board may be required to undertake a Safeguarding Adult Review (SAR) when, as a result of abuse or neglect, an adult dies or is seriously harmed and there is a concern that agencies could have worked together more effectively to protect the adult. 
We acknowledge this will be a difficult time for families and carers but it is important that we inform family a review is taking place and provide an opportunity to be involved.

Families are often in a position to really help us understand what it is agencies need to do better so that future professional practice is able to improve. The decision to take part in a review is optional and where families do not feel able to contribute this will be respected.  Families will be informed when a review is nearing completion so learning can be shared ahead of publication of a report.

What happens

A Reviewer will be appointed to conduct the review, they will be independent of all services involved with the adult.  A Safeguarding Adults Review Panel will be established with membership from all of the agencies involved with the adult and will be expected to provide information to inform the review process.  
The SAR Panel will consider the information gathered to find out if expected standards of work have been met and that organisational or agency policies and procedures have been followed. 
This is to identify whether any lessons can be learned about the way agencies and organisations work together to safeguard adults, and also identify any areas of good practice.

How long will the review take

Each review is different so it is difficult to say how long the review will take. This depends on a variety of things such as how many professionals were involved in providing care and support to the person, how much information needs to be gathered and the methodology adopted for the review.

Publication of reviews

The final SAR report will normally be published on Cumbria Safeguarding Adults website, but family views will be taken into consideration. The report will be fully anonymised and will not contain any identifying details. It will be made available to all professionals to ensure that the lessons learned and recommendations are put into practice.

How can you be involved

The Independent Reviewer will provide family members and other individuals close to the adult (where appropriate), the opportunity to share views and comment on the services received and the adults experience. 
Cumbria Safeguarding Adults Board will contact family members to ask if and how they would like to contribute to the review process.  Following completion of the review process the Independent Reviewer will meet with families to outline the findings, lessons learnt and recommendations from the review.

If you have any queries about a review

Contact the Board Business Manager, email: csab@cumberland.gov.uk.